Greek Foods and Drinks – Greek Ouzo Etiquette
By Sufidreamer
Greek Ouzo is more than just a drink; it is a way of life. Unlike the pub and bar culture of Northern Europe and North America, Greeks prefer to sit in a taverna or ouzeri, and talk over a glass of fine Greek Ouzo. Over the years, drinking Ouzo has developed its own etiquette, and it is wise to understand a few of the basic rules before visiting Greece. It is a very powerful drink, more so because it tastes pleasant and is easy to overdo; this risks Greek Ouzo oblivion and the subsequent embarrassment.
Pouring Greek Ouzo
Before learning a little about the complex etiquette behind Greek Ouzo, you need to learn how to pour this wonderful drink. Despite its strength, Greek Ouzo is surprisingly delicate and putting ice straight into it can ruin the drink.
1) Pour two fingers of Greek Ouzo into a tall glass
2) Add a little cold water to taste
3) Add two or three ice cubes
4) Sip and enjoy, topping up with a little more water as required
With this, you are ready to go and can learn the art of drinking Ouzo.
Good Ouzo Etiquette – The Art of Drinking Ouzo
1) Greek Ouzo is meant to be drunk with company. A couple of Ouzos makes you relax and unwind, and enjoy the deep philosophical conversations that Greeks are famous for. Of course, after three Ouzos, the philosophical debate usually ends up in a fierce argument, for which the Greeks are even more famous. Don’t be offended if they start shouting at you – it means that they like you!
2) Greek Ouzo is the perfect drink with Greek foods, because it cleans the palate without overpowering the subtle flavours of Greek cuisine. Greeks generally enjoy Ouzo with mezedes, a selection of different dishes, from which you pick and choose a few nibbles.
3) If you visit Greece, never ask for a double Ouzo, because that will inevitably end up in certain death. Greek measures are extremely generous, and a Greek single would be a double or triple in the UK or US. You have been warned – Greeks are not as tolerant of drunks as British or Americans, and will quickly disown you. Or try to sell you a plot of land...
4) Ouzo is meant to be diluted with water. There is nothing manly about drinking Ouzo straight, and mixing it with other alcoholic drinks is borderline insanity. If you ask for an orange juice or cola mixer, you will instantly become a pariah. You might get away with it in Athens but, in the rest of Greece, you may well find yourself sitting alone.
5) Drink a few glasses of water with your Ouzo, especially on a hot day. It has a powerful dehydrating effect, as well as having the potential for giving you a huge hangover.
What are the Best Greek Ouzos?
Barbagiannis Ouzo: This is my favorite Greek Ouzo, with its clean, slightly bitter taste and herby fragrance. Like all of the finest Greek ouzo’s, the Barbagiannis distillery is on the island of Lesvos, also known as Mytilini. They produce four types of Ouzo:
- Green Label: This is the standard Ouzo, and has the blend of anise, alcohol and herbs perfectly balanced. Unlike inferior brands, Barbagiannis do not add excess sugar, which is why you can drink Barbagiannis and avoid hangovers – it is a clean drink.
- Blue Label: At 46% alcohol, this one does the trick, but retains the smoothness of the green label.
- Aphrodite Ouzo: This is 48% of pure, undiluted heaven, as the beautiful goddess waits to take you to the height of ecstasy. My favorite drink on the entire planet.
- Evzon Ouzo: This is a little more robust that the others and you certainly know that you have been drinking something. If Aphrodite Ouzo is blessed by the Goddess of Love, this one was created for Hephaestus, the smith. Designed with the sailors in mind, its heavy aniseed will put hairs on your chest but also keep you warm on a cold, damp morning.
Plomari Ouzo: Some people may find the Barbagiannis Ouzo too bitter, so Plomari Ouzo is a good choice. Plomari Ouzo is a smooth Ouzo, although I find it a little too sweet. However, it is definitely worth drinking and is much easier to get hold of than the Barbagiannis.
Other Greek Food and Drink Links
Greek Ouzo – A look in to the noble history of Greek Ouzo and a guie to the subtle blend of herbs that gives this Greek drink its flavor. Well worth a read if you want to find out more about Greek Ouzo, the national drink of Greece.
Greek Ouzo – To Farmako – The Medicine – Many Greeks swear that Greek Ouzo has medicinal benfits, although their wives claim that this is just an excuse for spending time in the taverna. This article explores the truth behind Greek Ouzo’s medicinal benefits.
The Ten Stages of Greek Ouzo Oblivion: Greek Ouzo should not be taken lightly, and overdoing it will bring harsh consequences. In this satirical Hub about the perils of Greek Ouzo, Dirty Harry himself warns you not to do it.
The Greek Breakfast – Tomatoes, Feta and Bread: The Greek Breakfast is simple and can even be enjoyed with Greek Ouzo, if you want.
Olive Oil – The Healthy Choice for Cardiac Patients: Olive oil is the king of Greek foods, renowned for its healthy qualities, especially for cardiac patients. Maybe this wil counteract the effects of the Greek Ouzo.
lol, found it.
"How's my head going to feel tomorrow?
Wonderful!
No headache?
No, but you won't be able to make a fist for three days."
Hey Idunn - That was quick, and I am glad to send you off to bed with thoughts of alcohol. If you can track some good stuff down, it is well worth it. The teeth feeling soft is true and, as for the fist - I always get pins and needles in my extremities with Ouzo. EDIT: Just read the second bit - that's about right. It seems to bring temporary paralysis!
I will have a look at that play, when I have a little time - anyway, onwards and upwards - Greek honey is the next topic!
Kali Nichta, mwra mou :)
Kali Mera - I enjoyed this hub...I actually found a great Greek restaurant nearby and love it. Every once in a while I will buy a bottle of Ouzo but I agree with your tips on how to drink it...If you do not mind - I would like to link this hub with mine "The Greek Me"
As usual informative and interesting. Funny, I don't think I've ever tried Ouzo
Kali mera, mtsi - Glad that you enjoyed it and I am also happy that you found a good source of Ouzo. No probloems with the link - I won't link back on this Hub, because I want to keep it tidy for the challenge, but I will insert a link on one of my other Ouzo Hubs (Ouzo drinking is my hobby!)
Thanks, gramarye - it is well worth tracking down a bottle. You should have few problems in Oz - lots of Greeks there!
I'm still developing a taste for Ouzo, but we do frequent Atlanta's best Greek restaurant, Kyma quite often where I've grown quite fond of Greek Moshofilero wine :) Nice Hub, I'll try some Barbagiannis next vist. Thanks for the tip.
Hubby loves ouzo but I am afraid I do not
Hi Green Lotus - if you can get hold of Barbagiannis, it is a great drink. I don't eat fish, but I have heard that it is great with seafood!
Cheers, Ethel - it certainly is an acquired taste!
I wish I read this when I was younger traveling through Europe and Greece in particular lol
Thanks for dropping by, billlyaustin - there certainly is an art to Ouzo. Let us know if you decide to visit Greece again :)
Sufi, very good article.
I have yet to visit Greece but have a friend there you might know of: Dimitris Liolios. He is quite a famous musician there and definitely likes his Ouzo and arguments.
Cheers,
James.
Thanks, Twenty One Days
I do know of Dimitris - my Greek friend loves his music (I think that she has a bit of a thing for him, too ;))
Have a great evening!
I fell in love with anise drinks through drinking Ricard when I was living in France. I moved on to sambuca when I returned to the UK because it was easier to get - at that time, I don't think ouzo was even on my radar. I tried ouzo for the first time when I finally got to Greece about 5 years ago. Nice stuff!
It certainly is - it is difficult to get the good stuff outside Greece. For reasons best known to themselves, they add a lot of sugar to export brands, which kills the delicate flavour. Still, Oz is probably a good place to find the good stuff - the many Greeks there must import some proper Ouzo.
Thanks for visiting - always a pleasure :)
Really enjoyed this hub. I have a connection to all things Greek. It's been quite a while now, but I had a Greek boyfriend for 15 years...almost married him, but decided against it. Have been all over Greece and consumed quite a bit of Ouzo. I like your tips and suggestions. Thanks for a trip down memory lane.
Thanks for visiting, Alekhouse - I am surprised that you have any memories of Greece left if you consumed Ouzo :P
Let us know if you decide to visit again - we can sip Ouzo and watch the sun set over the mountains. :)
I will remember this advice when I get to Greece. Thanks for sharing!
Cheers, Penny - Ouzo is well worth treating with caution!
I love Ouzo! I have a bottle of Plomari in the cabinet. Have you ever put it in your coffee? It is amazing. My father was born in Greece so I was brought up with Ouzo. Dad had a strong disdain for the retsina wine(he explained that it came from pine resin) but would occasionally acquire some of the better brands and cautioned us all to drink in moderation. He was beating into our heads that the Romans stole the expression "nihil ad excessi" from the Greeks. We are a proud and loud group. Thanks for the laughs ;)
Thanks for visiting, Painter: I have never tried it in coffee, although I have been known to add a little raki - Glad that you are a fan of the divine drink - Plomari is one of the better ones, although the Greek government has just slapped a large tax on spirits, which sucks. I like Retsina, too, but some of the stuff can be a little 'robust,' so I am not surprised that your dad cautioned moderation.
Geia Sou :)
Hi Sufidreamer, Im Dimitris Dacey (Kastorion), we drunk a few ouzos and tsipouro in Sparta together a few years back!!! I can assist anyone in the UK who is interested to purchase Barbayiannis Green, Blue and Aphrodite labels among other organic and non organic Hellenic Edible Produce. Call me at +30 6976961030 / email at GoFWD.World@gmail.com. Take care my friend and I look forward to enjoying a glass of Aphrodite with you soon in the family house in Kastorion.
Eucharisto, Dimitri - look forward to meeting up again.
To any UK readers - Barbayiannis is the best :D
60 Day Challenge Hot Hubs
- Successful Interventions For Toledo, Ohio: Third Largest City for Child Sex Trafficking and Slavery
Task Forces and partnerships among agencies and private citizens in Ohio are combating the proliferation of human trafficking in Ohio with some success. - 2 years ago
- The 5 Best Anti-Aging Vitamins For Young Looking Skin
Wrinkles are something that is inevitable and part of the aging process but aging well is an art. - 2 years ago
- Simple and Easy Exercises for Pregnant Women
Are there simple and easy exercises for pregnant women? - 2 years ago
- Psychology 101 - What Is Intelligence?
In this psychology 101 article, we define and disect the ideas surrounding intelligence. - 2 years ago
- Famous and Best Mexican Actors and Actresses
In honor of the Cinco de Mayo (May 5) celebration, I will feature in this hub the beautiful, best and famous Mexican actresses and actors. - 2 years ago
- Angelina Jolie Movies List
Angelina Jolie began her career as a teen model, then switched to acting in 1990's. - 2 years ago
Ouzo Links
- Gaelx
Greek Ouzo Picture, under a Creative Commons Sharealike License - Plomari Beach Photo
Plomari Ouzo on the beach image, under a Creative Commons Attribution, Noncommercial, No Derivative Works license. Courtesy of flixflickr - Greek-Recipe.com | Greek ouzo
Greek recipe reveals a little about this drink, and why it has become such a large part of Greek culture. They also highlight some of the best Greek Ouzo brands. - Samos
This guide to Samos reveals the history of Ouzo on this beautiful island, anbd how it has shaped the unique culture. - Ouzo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
As always, Wikipedia provides a good summary of the history and processes behind making Greek Ouzo. From the commercial brands to the micro-distilleries in Lesvos, this entry gives a good overview of the national drink, Greek Ouzo. - Ouzo: Greece\'s Most Popular Drink
Matt Barret gives a tour through the various Greek Ouzos, bringing a taste of Greek foods and drinks into your front room. Sit back and enjoy the journey through the world of Greek Ouzo. - Ouzo, the National Drink of Greece
A good article revealing the history of the Greek National Drink, and its connection to Lesvos. Well worth a read if you want to become a connoisseur of Greek Ouzo. - Entertaining with Ouzo - Throw a Greek Ouzo Party
If you have managed to track down some Greek Ouzo, here is how to turn your home into an Ouzeri for an evening. This article is filled with recipes for Greek foods and drinks. - Ouzo Recipies - Greek Ouzomezedes!
This site gives a few good recipes for Mezedes, allowing you to enjoy the traditional Greek foods and drinks together. This is the place to go if you want to have a Greek Ouzo evening
Iðunn 2 years ago
Informative and as always, such a delight to read and well put together.
I've never drank ouzo but I am actually fascinated about it.
I'm about to go to bed, so this will be a bedtime story, if you will. :)
I know of ouzo because of a Neil Simon play called "Barefoot in the Park". The couple with her mother goes out to dinner with a mysterious man. They drink Ouzo.
There is a scene with the mother and the son in law after discussing ouzo. I just looked and found the whole script. How lucky!
"Mom, you want to hear something frightening? My teeth feel soft.
Huh. It's funny. The best thing we had all night was the knichi.
Ohh... anyway, Corie had a good time.
She seems to get such a terrific kick out of living.
You've got to admire that, don't you, Paul?
Yes, yes. I admire anybody who has three portions of pelenchki.
I tried, Paul. I just couldn't seem to work up an appetite the way they did.
No, you mustn't blame yourself, Mom. We're not used to that kind of food, that's all. You don't... pick up a fork and dig into a black salad. You got to play with it."
The teeth feeling soft and not being able to make a fist (which I didn't locate in this part) was about ouzo. :D